The Indian two-wheeler industry, having clocked 20 million units last fiscal, is the world's largest, and it’s the scooter segment that is consistently outnumbering motorcycle sales. The convenience and practicality offered by an auto-gear step-through vehicle are second to none. Since 2016, there has been an upward trend in the demand for sporty and powerful automatic two-wheelers in the Indian market.
Here’s a list of top 5 upcoming scooters to launch in India in the coming year.
1. Hero Destini 125
The Hero Destini 125 is a rechristened Duet 125, which was showcased at the Auto Expo 2018 in Greater Noida. The Destini 125 is on track to launch in India during the festive season (October to November). The unisex scooter comes with an all-metal body construction.
The Hero Destini 125 will rival the likes of Honda Activa 125, Suzuki Access 125 and the Vespa LX 125. It will come loaded with Hero’s i3S start-stop system for improved fuel efficiency. The Hero Destini 125 could arrive with a price tag of circa INR 55,000 (ex-showroom).
The Destini 125 uses a 124.6 cc, single cylinder, air-cooled engine that develops 8.7 bhp of power at 6,750 rpm and 10.2 Nm of peak torque at 5,000 rpm, coupled to a Vario-Matic transmission.
2. TVS Entorq 150 Maxi-scooter (Speculative Name)
TVS Motor Company is reportedly developing an all-new 150 cc maxi-scooter for the Indian market. If media reports are to be believed, the new two-wheeler could be the TVS Entorq 150, which will share design cues with the TVS Entorq 210. The Hosur-based company premiered the Entorq 210 concept at the 2016 Auto Expo.
Powering the TVS Entorq maxi-scooter will be an all-new 150 cc, single-cylinder engine with fuel injection, while the motor will be mated to a CVT. TVS will also offer a single-channel ABS as standard on the scooter. The Entorq 150 will share cycle parts with the TVS Ntorq 125.
It is also likely to feature an all-digital instrument cluster with Smart Connect system and Smartphone integration via Bluetooth with turn-by-turn navigation. TVS Motor is expected to offer superior overall quality on the new two-wheeler, as it is anticipated to be a global product.
3. Hero Maestro Edge 125
The Hero Maestro Edge 125 was showcased alongside the Hero Duet 125 at the Auto Expo 2018 in February. Hero MotoCorp has hinted that the Maestro Edge 125 is on track for an Indian launch during the festive period (October to November). The two-wheeler is targeted towards male riders with its sporty design and attractive features.
The Hero Maestro Edge 125 will compete with the Honda Grazia, TVS Ntorq 125 and the Aprilia SR 125 among others. The scooter will come equipped with the Hero i3S start-stop system, which offers improved fuel efficiency.
The Maestro Edge 125 sources power from a 124.6 cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that generates 8.7 bhp of maximum power and 10.2 Nm of peak torque, coupled to a Vario-Matic transmission. The Hero Maestro Edge 125 could be priced around INR 55,000 (ex-showroom).
4. Aprilia Storm 125
The Aprilia Storm 125 debuted in India at the Auto Expo 2018 in February. While it was expected to launch during the festive season, the scooter will reportedly come to the market in January 2019. The delay is attributed to the fact that the company wants to introduce the CBS equipped model in India, which will be ready by early next year.
The Aprilia Storm 125 will sit below the SR 125 that is priced at INR 67,004, ex-showroom Delhi. The scooter features a different visual appeal with bright matte paint schemes and off-road tyres. The Storm 125 comes with 12-inch alloy wheels at both the ends with 120-section front and 130-section rear tubeless tyres. Aprilia will also offer various customisation options with accessories like a tall windshield, which was displayed at the Auto Expo 2018.
5. TVS Jupiter Electric
While the TVS e-scooter was to launch in India by March 2018, TVS has placed the EV plans on hold. That said, the alleged TVS Jupiter Electric could come back to focus by end of next year. The company is currently working on making their product portfolio BS-6 compliant much before the deadline.
